Abstract: A method that rapidly reconfigures a computer network having a plurality of devices executing the spanning tree algorithm. First, one or more devices are configured and arranged so that one port, providing connectivity to the root, is in the forwarding state and the remaining ports, providing connectivity to the root, are in the blocked state. Next, one or more of the blocked ports are designated as back-up ports. Upon detection of a failure at the active forwarding port, one of the back-up ports immediately transitions from blocked to forwarding, thereby becoming the new active port for the device. Following the transition to a new active port, dummy multicast messages are transmitted, each containing the source address of an entity directly coupled to the affected device or downstream thereof. By examining the dummy multicast messages, other devices in the network learn to use to the new forwarding port of the affected device.

Abstract: Enhanced directory services for large and complex compound WAN/LAN networks includes the use of resource triplet identifications including the resource identification, the identification of the domain in which the resource resides, and the identification of the access node connecting the resource to the compound network. The creation and storage of these identification triplets are automatically initiated as new resources are added to the compound network. Features include the deliberate corruption or modification of triplet identifications to allow prior art directory services to access resources in foreign networks, and the use of these corrupted vectors (as well as the contents of the WAN network topology data base) to allow route selection regardless of the size or complexity of the WAN/LAN network.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling flow of output data between computers sharing an application program. The application program is executed on a host computer and shared with shadow computers. Each computer has a sharing system for coordinating the sharing of the application program. The sharing system of the host computer requests a flow control system of the host computer for permission to transmit output data. The flow control system of the host computer, upon receiving the request for permission, determines whether the amount of output data currently in transit from the host computer to the shadow computers exceeds the amount that can be in transit. When the amount is not exceeded, the flow control system grants permission to the sharing system of the host computer; and when the amount is exceeded, the flow control system denies permission to the sharing system of the host computer.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing an initiating processing unit in a multi-processor computer system with other processing units in the system, by assigning a unique tag for each processing unit, and issuing synchronization messages which include the unique tag of an initiating processing unit. The processing units each have a snoop queue for receiving snoop operations and corresponding tags associated with instructions issued by an initiating processing unit, and the processors examine their respective snoop queues to determine whether any snoop operation in those queues has a tag which is the unique tag of the initiating processing unit. A retry message is sent to the initiating processing unit from any of the other processing units which determine that a snoop operation in a snoop queue has a tag which is the unique tag of the initiating processing unit.

Abstract: A computer is coupled to a switching subsystem that connects the computer to either a network interface device or a wireless modem. The network interface device sends a status signal to the switch indicating whether the device is connected to the network. If a network connection is made, the network interface device is used to communicate over the network. If the status indication is that the network interface device is not connected, the switch automatically connects the wireless modem to the computer so that the computer can communicate with the network over a radio channel. In a preferred embodiment, the switching subsystem reconnects to the network port when it again becomes operable.

Abstract: A method and means for exchanging messages between a multitude of computer systems is provided, whereby the sender system's memory is used as a buffer for the message to be transferred. The method comprises a first step of writing data into a portion of the sender system's memory, a second step of setting an indication signal in the receiver system, and a third step of performing a remote read access to the data in the sender system's memory. Thus, the message buffers of prior art solutions have been replaced by portions of the sender system's memory. The remote read access is performed by a direct memory adapter (DMA) in the receiver system, whereby said indication signal is mapped to the start address of said portion of the sender system's memory. Because any write access to a remote system's memory is forbidden, data integrity is preserved.

Abstract: A method for creating and editing a Web site in a client-server computer network using customizable templates is provided. To create a Web site, the present embodiment first stores a plurality of templates in a storage device coupled to the client-server computer network. When a client computer generates a request to create a new Web site, the server computer transmits a list of templates to the client for display. The templates contain a multitude of editable objects or elements. A template is then selected upon which the new Web site will be based on. The new site is then customized according to a user's preference by editing the objects or elements. The customized site is then published as a new Web site. To edit a Web site, a client computer generates a request to edit a Web site and passes the request on to the server computer. The server computer transmits the Web site to the client for display. The Web site contains a multitude of editable objects or elements.

Abstract: A registry to organize information from client entities on different networks for selective sharing, having a first computer having a disk for storing a dynamic client registry and resource locators containing function names. A web server causes the first computer to respond to the resource locators by loading the function name indicated. A database management program organizes the dynamic client registry.

Abstract: A system and method of filtering junk e-mails. The user is provided with or compiles a list of e-mail addresses or character strings which the user would not wish to receive to produce a first filter. A second filter is provided including names and character strings which the user wishes to receive. Any e-mail addresses or strings contained in the first filter will be automatically eliminated from the users system. Any e-mail addresses or strings contained in the second filter would be automatically sent to the users "In Box". Any e-mail not provided in either of the filter lists will be sent to a "Waiting Room" for user review. If this user review results in the user rejecting any e-mail, the address as well as specific character strings included in this e-mail would be transmitted to a central location to be included in a master list. This master list is periodically sent to each of the users allowing the first filter to be updated.

Abstract: A method for use in electronic design models encoded into design software for use in SOI based FET logic design includes simulation of an SOI device and setting a floating body voltage to any desired value at any time during the simulation, by adding to the model an ideal voltage source, whose value is a desired body voltage, in series with an ideal current source, whose value is a constant times the voltage across itself. When the constant is zero no current can flow, and any additional components have no effect on the circuit. When the constant is non-zero, said ideal current source appears to be the same as a resistor such that, current can flow in to or out from the body node, setting its voltage. The constant is kept zero at all times, except when it is desired to change the body voltage. The body voltage can be reset at any time to solve the problem of successive delays in one simulation run and resetting the voltage before each delay measurement starts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus related to grouping (or matching) network users and computers associated with multi-user applications is disclosed. Each user is associated with a client computer that is connected to a network. A match maker application resides on one or more server computer(s). The match maker application controls the process of collecting Clients into matched sets, called client groups, based upon a wide range of attributes of the users, their client computers, the server computers, software application titles, application instances and/or data communication links of the network, for example. Each time the match maker application creates a client group, it creates a group data set that represents the client group. Network match making information is presented to users in an understandable manner using icons, other graphical images or collections of icons and/or images, for example, displayed on a display screen.

Abstract: A Network Switch and related method are disclosed for handling large amounts of internetwork message traffic employing internetwork protocols in a way substantially as efficient as a bridge handles network traffic within a network without the complexity and expense related to employing a full router. The Network Switch features database means for correlating MAC addresses, network addresses, network switch port addresses and VLAN configuration. The Network Switch maintains the network presence of a bridge (i.e., it does not have its own MAC or network address) and operates promiscuously by having internetwork traffic travel through the Network Switch and entering address data of the data packets. The Network Switch thus learns the network topology and subsequently redirects and re-addresses packets addressed to a router and transmits them to their destination MAC address. In this way, the workload on the router is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A license restriction management system having wrapper programs and agents as appropriate to manage launches of application programs in distributed systems of computers having a multiplicity of different operating systems. The system includes passive monitoring where only data regarding launches is collected or active monitoring where the number of copies of licensed programs in execution at any particular time is actively controlled by the agents and wrappers in cooperation with a license restriction management process. Configuration of the agents to use TCP or UDP communication protocols and to do automatic denial of unauthorized applications based upon either locally kept or centrally kept lists of authorized applications.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring information resources over a network from one source to another that reduces latency and bandwidth requirements on the network. The information resources are made up of at least a static and dynamic portion. A client requests information, and a server receives the request and then transmits to the requestor the desired information. The server may send both the static and dynamic portion of the information resource, or the server may sent only the dynamic portion of the resource, depending on the client's needs and the request made. By discriminating between the static and dynamic portions of an information resource in this way, less data must be sent from the server to the client on every access. Also, the computational load that is typical of servers on a network is shifted to the client, thereby reducing latency.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in a network utilizing Internet Protocol (IP), Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP), and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocol is provided. An intelligent policy mapping database (PMD) accessible at the network level by both the RSVP and ATM protocol stacks maps RSVP parameters to ATM parameters with input from factors outside of the RSVP or ATM protocol stacks, e.g., general customer data. With the basis of customer data or other information outside of the RSVP and ATM protocol stacks, a network reservation message to the PMD contains RSVP flow specifications which are mapped to correlated ATM Quality of Service (QoS) parameters.

Abstract: A method controls a network device on a local area network (LAN) to operate as a list manager which maintains a list of device addresses for the LAN, and to operate as a slave which provides a device address of the network device to a list manager. The method comprises the steps of determining whether a list manager is operating on the LAN, controlling the network device to operate as a slave on the LAN when the determining step determines that a list manager is operating on the LAN, and controlling the network device to operate as the list manager for the LAN when the determining step determines that no list manager is operating on the LAN.

Abstract: A system and method for managing connections between one or more local terminals and one or more remote systems over a packet-switched network is disclosed. The invention includes a gateway computer that forms a bridge between the local terminals and the one or more host systems, the gateway and the local terminals including computer software instructions for embedding and filtering special connection identification information in each transaction request. The local terminals embed connection identification information into each request packet requesting a connection to a remote host system, and the gateway filters this information and verifies that the gateway and local terminal(s) are synchronized. The gateway then manages the communication to the host system using the native protocol of the host, thereby minimizing communication over the packet-switched network.

Abstract: In the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) standard, availability of directory services is increased by apparatus and methods using agents inserted between requesting clients and servers. By using agents, additional functions are carried out which are not performed in a typical DCE environment. Each agent inserts itself between the requesters and servers by writing over the pointer to the server with information pointing to the agent, thus redirecting requests to themselves. The agent then receives incoming requests and forwards them on to its associated server and other agents. The agent handling requests for the master server is called the "master" agent and the agents handling requests for replica servers are "replica" agents. The agents make sure requests are performed before replying to the original requester. Agents also monitor themselves. If a master agent crashes, the remaining agents elect a new master agent.

Abstract: A method for displaying streamed digital video data on a client computer. The client computer is configured to receive the streamed digital video data from a server computer via a computer network. The streamed digital video data is transmitted from the server computer to the client computer as a stream of video frames. The method includes receiving a first plurality of video frames at the client computer. The plurality of video frames represents a subset of the stream of video frames. The stream of video frames comprises independent playable video frames and dependent playable video frames. The method further includes displaying the first plurality of video frames on a video display terminal associated with the client computer. There is further included issuing a rewind command from the client computer to the server.

Abstract: A registration applet embedded in a registration page of a browser program allows a user to associate a user-specified group name with a plurality of UTRLs, HTTP POST or GET requests or other network service identifiers, such that the group name designates a category of information provided by corresponding network services. An access applet embedded in an access page of the browser allows a user to select one of several previously-registered group names, and an access mode for processing responses to service requests. A processor running the access applet automatically issues parallel requests to the network services associated with a selected group name in response to entry of a command by the user.